About Scratch Dials
Scratch dials, also known as Mass dials, are a type of medieval dial (1100 to 1600) found on the south side of many churches. They tend to be fairly small and found on the walls, buttresses, windows and doorways of a church. They are called Mass dials because it is thought that some showed the time of the Mass and other services held during the day.
They are also known as Scratch dials because many of these dials are quite crudely scratched into the stone.
The hole in the centre of the dial would once have contained a horizontal wooden or metal rod that cast a shadow. This rod is known as a gnomon (pronounced No Mon). A gnomon hole might be found in the mortar joint between two stone blocks, in the same block as the dial or in the block above the dial.
For more information regarding sundials please click The British Sundial Society link Mass Dials • The British Sundial Society
Below is a photo of the South (Main) door to the Church showing the site of the 'dial' half way up the pillar on the right.
To the right are two photos of the dial, the second one has had a gnomon added and has been photographically enhanced to emphasize the remaining markings
